Tijuana vs. Cruz Azul

It wasn’t as bad as the final 5-0 scoreline, but Americans Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona both started in Tijuana’s debacle at Cruz Azul.

After winning the Apertura in 2012, Tijuana has had a rough go of it in the Clausura. The Xolos now find themselves 12th in the table and winless in their last six league matches.

Both Corona and Castillo were culpable in the first two goals Tijuana gave up before the team completely collapsed in the last five minutes of play leading to the embarrassing final score.

On the first goal, Castillo was caught out of position as Cruz Azul came down Tijuana’s left side for the opening goal in the 32nd minute of play.

Then, just after the halftime break, a bad giveaway off a poor first touch by Corona led to a Cruz Azul counterattack for the game’s second goal.

Both Americans had mixed games. Corona didn’t get on the ball much, but when he did, he created a few chances. He easily could have earned a penalty when a shot he took just outside the 18 in the 11th minute went off a Cruz Azul defender. He also flashed a header over the crossbar on a Tijuana corner kick in the 31st minute and started two good Xolos movements by switching the point of attack.

Corona did his part defensively with two good clearances while defending corner kicks and with Castillo, put together a nice six-pass combination for Tijuana resulting in one of their better opportunities. Corona also got wrecked on the edge of the box in the first half which should have earned Tijuana a dangerous free-kick, but the advantage was given by the official and no call was made.

For his part, Castillo played okay. Still wearing his protective facemask from the facial fractures he suffered several weeks ago, Castillo was eager to get forward and joined the attack often. He bombed forward on a run in the 17th minute, but after getting all the way into the attacking third, didn’t find anyone with his pass. Besides getting caught out of position on Cruz Azul’s first goal, Castillo also allowed two dangerous counterattacks off his giveaways in the 24th and 60th minutes.

The only good news to come out of the game for USMNT fans was the fact that the match was broadcast in English on ESPN2 as part of the network’s new English coverage of Liga MX.

The English Contingent

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Stoke City lost 2-0 to Manchester United. Geoff Cameron played 71 minutes, but Brek Shea did not make the game-day squad. Stoke now sit only three points above the drop zone with five games left to play.

Aston Villa and Brad Guzan tied Fulham, 1-1. Villa, like Stoke, are three points above the relegation zone with five games to go. Eric Lichaj did not dress for Villa.

Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham had the weekend off. Spurs are even with Chelsea on points for the final Champions’ League place, but are behind the Blues on goal differential. Chelsea also has a game in hand.

Tim Howard and Everton beat QPR, 2-0. Everton are three points shy of a top-four finish with six games to go.

Jonathan Spector and Will Packwood are injured and did not feature in Birmingham’s 2-2 draw with Leicester.

Bolton beat Bristol City 2-1, but Tim Ream did not get into the match.

Ze Germans

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Jermaine Jones is still recovering from injury and did not feature in Schalke’s 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Schalke is holding onto the last Champions’ League qualification spot by one point with five games to play.

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover lost 3-1 to Freiburg. Cherundolo played the entire match.

Hoffenheim tied Wolfsburg, 2-2. Fabian Johnson played the entire match. Danny Williams did not dress. Hoffenheim are six points from safety with five matches to play.

Timmy Chandler came on at the half, but couldn’t change Nurnberg’s fortunes as they lost 4-0 to already crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Michael Parkhurst’s Augsburg beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0, but Parkhurst was once again not involved. Parkhurst has not featured for the club in over a month and did not even make the 18 for this weekend’s match. Augsburg are three points from safety with five games to go.

Hertha Berlin tied Ingolstadt, 1-1. John Anthony Brooks and Alfredo Morales both started and went the distance. Hertha holds a guaranteed promotion spot to the Bundesliga by 14 points with five games to play.

Joe Gyau is injured and did not feature in St. Pauli’s 3-1 win over 1860 Munich. Bobby Wood played 25 minutes for Munich.

Elsewhere in Europe: Jozy Scores a Hat-Trick

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Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar beat Utrecht 6-0 with Altidore scoring a natural hat-trick in the first half. Video of his third goal— HERE.

Carlos Bocanegra and Santander lost 1-0 to Girona. Bocanegra played 90 minutes, but Santander are still in the relegation zone with eight games to go. It may not matter much to Bocanegra who last week publicly stated his intention to return to Rangers next season.

Oguchi Onyewu’s Malaga beat Osasuna, 1-0. Onyewu did not make the gameday squad.